Bulacan farmer to grow rice with less water

MANILA, Philippines - Less water, more rice.

Aerobic rice technology, a new rice technique that uses less water, will be tested by Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Nimencio J. Concepcion of the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center in San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

Concepcion, a rice grower for 25 years, will be implementing the aerobic rice production system in his Science and Technology-based Farm (STBF) in Parang, San Ildefonso, Bulacan.

Aerobic rice technology was first introduced in the Philippines by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in 2001. It is a cropping system that requires planting aerobic rice varieties in nonflooded and nonpuddled soil, and uses supplementary irrigation.   

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), the Central Luzon Agricultural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CLARRDEC), Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC), FITS Bulacan Provincial Agriculture Office, and FITS San Ildefonso, Bulacan will assist Concepcion in the implementation of the STBF on aerobic rice technology from May 2010 to October 2011.

During the STBF inception meeting, BASC Director Junel B. Soriano mentioned that since 2005 BASC has been collaborating with the Philippine Rice Research Institute and IRRI to fine-tune the aerobic rice technology. Research trials conducted in Bulacan showed that aerobic rice production can have an average yield of 4.5 t/ha during the wet season and 3.5 t/ha in the dry season.

The PCARRD team, led by Dr. Democrito Z. Magpantay, explained the concept and mechanics of the STBF implementation. Technical and financial requirements of the project as well as the respective roles of BASC, FITS centers, and the MS were also discussed.

Dr. Josephine de Guzman, Ms. Janet Saturno, and Ms. Vivian Ramos of CLARRDEC; and FITS-San Ildefonso staff and FITS Bulacan Provincial Agriculture Office also attended the meeting held at BASC last Feb. 15.    – With Dems Z. Magpantay, S&T Media Service